8 Hours

Ever heard the song, "Stop the World" by Matthew West? Wow, what a sad testament to all the distractions we have in our lives today! And what a hold they have over us!! I agree! It’s so easy to forget that each of us only have 24 hours a day. Take away 8 for sleep and we're down to 16... Subtract another 8 for work and we're down to 8! Gosh! It goes so fast! So, here comes the big question (no sighs! Come on, you had to know this question was coming): how are you spending those remaining 8 hours? (gulp)

I must inform you, as you are likely already aware of, that we all will give an account for how we used the time and resources that God gave us. The Bible speaks often and directly about accountability. Here are just a few:

ECC 11:9 "...But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do."

Matthew 12:36 "And I tell you this, you must give an account for every idle word you speak."

Romans 14:12 "Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God."

Hebrews 4:13 "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before His eyes, and He is the one to whom we are accountable."

And as if that wasn't enough, Jesus even spoke about accountability through parables, such as with The Parable of the Three Servants in Matthew 25, where the master calls each of the three servants to give an individual account of how, in his absence, they used the money he gave them.

We have to remember that ultimately, WE choose how to spend our day. We choose to read the Word and seek God or not. We choose to flip on the TV, turn on the radio, and get on the internet to watch/listen to things that have nothing to do with Him, and are quite frankly, just downright dishonoring to Him. We make that choice.

I don't mean this in a condemning way. I'll be the first person to say that change is difficult, especially in the midst of longstanding habits and challenging environments. But you have a vision of where you'd like to be, or at least where you'd like to be headed, I know you do. So, think, really think, about how you are spending your time and where your actions will ultimately lead. Are they helping you to reach that dream/goal? Or are they holding you back from it?

What are you doing with the 8 hours God has given you?